taint

[ teynt ]

/ teɪnt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR taint ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a trace of something bad, offensive, or harmful.

a trace of infection, contamination, or the like.

a trace of dishonor or discredit.

Obsolete. color; tint.

verb (used with object)

to modify by or as if by a trace of something offensive or deleterious.

to infect, contaminate, corrupt, or spoil.

to sully or tarnish (a person's name, reputation, etc.).

Obsolete. to color or tint.

verb (used without object)

to become tainted; spoil.

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to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Origin of taint

1325–75; conflation of Middle English taynt, aphetic variant of attaint struck, attainted, past participle of attainten to attaint; late Middle English taynt hue, tint <Anglo-French teint (<Latin tinctus, equivalent to ting(ere) to dye, tinge + -tus suffix of v. action); and teinte<Late Latin tincta inked stroke, noun use of feminine of past participle of tingere

SYNONYMS FOR taint

1 defect, spot, flaw, fault.

1, 7 blemish, stain.

6 defile, pollute, poison.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR taint ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM taint

un·taint·ed, adjectiveun·taint·ing, adjective

Words nearby taint

tain, Tainan, Taínaron, Taine, Taíno, taint, taintless, taipan, Taipei, Taiping, Taira

Definition for taint (2 of 2)

taint²

or t'aint

noun Slang: Vulgar.

the area between the testicles or vulva and the anus; the perineum.

Origin of taint

it ain’t (the one or the other), meaning it is the area in between

Example sentences from the Web for taint

Whether the charge will work to sufficiently taint Orman is another issue, says Popkin.
As Roberts and Orman Double Down, It’s War in Kansas|Eleanor Clift|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Infiltration, though, may well taint all main rebel factions.
Is Al Qaeda Aiding Bashar Al-Assad?|Jamie Dettmer|February 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In losing, however, he will taint his possible rivals—including Rand Paul—as pitiful members of the "surrender caucus."
Can Ted Cruz Win by Losing?|David Frum|September 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Once successfully in, I can see my Hash 160 and Taint Analysis, among other things.
My Bitcoin (Mis)adventure|Winston Ross|April 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Random spot checks, so that getting checked carries no taint.
Searching for Fraud|Megan McArdle|October 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Mrs. Lovell was perdition and its scorching fires to a man with a taint of cowardice in him.
Rhoda Fleming, Complete|George Meredith
The taint of alcoholism was in his blood, and matrimony and parentage were not for him.
The Missionary|George Griffith
Then, when the wind blew off the seas it frequently brought with it the taint of rotted fish.
From Place to Place|Irvin S. Cobb
Who then would agree to secure him from any taint of Arminian heresy in years to come?
Ginx's Baby|Edward Jenkins
But, 'taint leavin' all that gold in the gravel that's botherin' me.
Connie Morgan in Alaska|James B. Hendryx

British Dictionary definitions for taint

taint

/ (teɪnt) /

verb

to affect or be affected by pollution or contaminationoil has tainted the water

to tarnish (someone's reputation, etc)

noun

a defect or flawa taint on someone's reputation

a trace of contamination or infection

Derived forms of taint

taintless, adjective

Word Origin for taint

C14: (influenced by attaint infected, from attain) from Old French teindre to dye, from Latin tingere to dye

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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taint